Book mailing wrapper



April 30, 1968 T. H. DALESSIO BOOK MAILING WRAPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1967 INVENTOR.

APril 1968 T. H. DALESSIO 3,380,644

BOOK MAILING WRAPPER Filed Feb. 13, 1967 5 sheets-sheet 2 Fig.5

Theresa H. d A lessio l N VEN TOR.

April 30, 1968 T. H. D'ALESSIO 3,380,644

BOOK MAILING WRAPPER Filed Feb. 13, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 90 Theresa H. 0'14 les sio INVENTOR- United States Patent 3,380,644 BOOK MAILING WRAPPER Theresa H. dAlessio, dAlessio Gallery, 8 Henderson Place, New York, NY. 10028 Filed Feb. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 615,579 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination comprising a generally rectangular sheet generally including six integrally connected panels which cooperate to form a cover or overwrap for a plurality of book leaves secured to the Wrapper or a book contained Within the wrapper so as to adequately protect the face of the book during mailing of the book and its associated greeting or the like which comprises a portion of the outer surface of the wrapper.

The present invention relates generally to book mailers and more particularly to mailers which alternatively comprise an integral portion of a book or an overwrap therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to book mailers combined with a greeting card so as to facilitate the mailing of books together with appropriate printed greetings without necessitating the separate wrapping and obtaining or securing of a greeting card, postal address label or the like to the wrapping prior to mailing of the book.

Book and greeting card combinations have been proposed heretofore, however, such prior art devices was generally found to provide inadequate protection for the covered book and book leaves contained therein or the face of the book or book wrapper to the extent that during handling of the device in the mail the portion there of comprising the face of the book or wrapper was damaged and thus rendered unsightly or illegible. Accordingly, such prior art devices have been found to be somewhat unsatisfactory and the present invention is directed toward overcoming such difiiculties encountered with prior art devices of this general nature.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved book wrapper-greeting card combination which may be conveniently utilized to mail a gift, for example, comprising a book together with an appropriate greeting without necessitating the separate wrapping of the book followed by the securing of a separate greeting card, postal address label or the like to the exterior of the book wrapper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved book mailing wrapper which afiords substantially greater protection for the face of a book associated therewith than generally possible with somewhat analogous wrapping devices proposed heretofore.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved book mailing wrapper comprising a generally rectangular sheet generally consisting of six itegrally connected panels which panels are appropriately provided with sealing tape, contact adhesive, or similarly coated adhesive areas which are adapted to permit nesting of certain overwrap portions of the mailing wrapper within the wrapper prior to preparation of the book for mailing which areas thereafter coact to securely retain the mailing wrapper in proper encompassing position for the mailing of the book.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved book mailing wrapper which may be quickly and simply opened upon being received by the recipient in a manner which generally precludes disfigurement of the mailing wrapper so as to permit the 3,380,644 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 wrapper to continue to function as the cover of the book or an overwrap therefor.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a book mailing wrapper constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and having a plurality of book leaves integrally secured thereto, further showing portions of the book mailing wrapper in a nested position within the wrapper as would be the case prior to preparation of the book for mailing;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG- URE 1 showing the manner in which the nested portion of the mailing Wrapper of the device is placed in encompassing position about the front and spine of the book to prepare the book for mailing;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view, in reduced scale, of the generally rectangular multi-paneled sheet comprising the mailing wrapper of the device of FIGURES 1 and 2 and further showing the general placement of an imprint thereon which comprises, for example, a greeting card, advertisement or the like;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing an intermediate step in the utilization of the wrapper of FIGURE 1 wherein the bookmailing wrapper is placed in encompassing engagement about the book prior to being secured into the position as shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination produced in accordance with the principles of the present invention wherein the mailing wrapper is provided with an opening device comprising a pull-string or the like;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the orientation of the pull string opening device when the nested portion of the book mailing wrapper is sequentially moved from the nested position in FIGURE 5 to the sealed position of FIGURE 6 preparatory to mailing;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary mrspective view somewhat similar to FIGURE 6 and showing still another embodiment of a book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination produced in accordance with the principles of the present invention which utilizes an opening device comprising an integral tear strip;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the book mailing wrapper of FIGURES 5 and 6 provided with an opening device comprising a pull string;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination produced in accordance with the principles of the present invention which is primarily adapted to facilitate the mailing of a covered book together with a greeting such as when the leaves of the book are not integrally secured to the mailing wrapper;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the book mailing wrapper device of FIGURE 9 further showing the manner in which wrapping of the book contained therein is initiated by placement of laterally projecting portions of the generally rectangular sheet comprising the book mailing wrapper about the cover of the book to retain it therein without covering the end portions of the book leaves so as to insure that the wrapped book may be mailed at the greatly reduced postal rate which prevails for the mailing of books; and

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the generally rectangular multi-paneled sheet comprising the mailing wrapper 3 of FIGURES 9 and 10 further showing the position of areas of contact adhesive, or the like, on the sheet.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, it will be seen that the embodiment of the book Wrapper illustrated therein is indicated generally by numeral and comprises a generally rectangular sheet having a plurality, namely six, integrally related panels including a front or face panel 22, a spine panel 24, a back panel 26, a-front edge panel 28, a front face protector panel 38 and a spine panel protector panel 32. The mailing wrapper 20 is creased at 34 and 36 to form the spine panel 24. At a point on the panel corresponding to approximately th of an inch from the outer edge of the book leaves 38, which are integrally secured to the inner edge of the spine panel 24 such as by adhesive or the like, the mailing wrapper 20 is provided with folds 40 and 42 adapted to permit nesting the face protector panel safely within the wrapper between the back of the book and the back panel, and also out of the way of a trimming knife such as normally utilized when trimming a book of this nature during production thereof. A fold 44 coacts with the fold 42 to permit establishing the front edge panel 28. The book mailing wrapper 20 is further provided with a foldline 46 adapted to be juxtaposed to the front edge of the book leaves 38 thereby defining the spine panel protector panel 32. A fold line 48 is provided to permit bending a portion of the face protector panel 30 back upon itself so as to permit nesting of the panels 28, 30 and 32 between the leaves 38 and the back panel 36 prior to preparation of the book for mailing. The embodiment 20 is further provided with an adhesive strip or tape 50 partially adhered to the outer surface of the spine protector panel 32 and partially projecting outwardly therefrom so as to permit securing the panel 32 in overlying relation to the spine panel 24, as best seen in FIGURE 4, by pressing the adhesive surface 51 of the tape 50 against the outer surface of the back panel 26. To preclude premature adhesion of the tape 50 to the book leaves, etc., a release sheet 52, such as a glassine paper or the like is removably adhered to the adhesive 51 of the tape 50. Although the tape 50 has been illustrated as being coated with a tape adhesive it would similarly be provided with a cohesive or contact adhesive substance adapted to coact with a similar cohesive coating at the appropriate point on the exterior surface of the back panel 26 which would be in contiguous relationship to the coated portion 51 of the tape 50.

As seen best in FIGURES 2 and 3 the face panel 22 is preferably utilized to imprint the title of the book, such as for example may comprise a portion of a humorous greeting or the like. The exterior surface of the spine panel 24 is preferably provided with the title and author while the exterior surface of the back panel 26 may be provided with indicia such as frequently incorporated in the fiyleaf of a book so as to comprise a synopsis thereof. The exterior surface of the panel 30 comprises a panel having provision for the reception of the forwarding and return addresses of the recipient and sender respectively and an appropriate area reserved for the reception of the required amount of postage. It will thus be seen that the embodiment 20 of the book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination upon manipulation from the nested position shown in FIGURE 1 to the wrapped condition shown in FIGURE 2, as sequentially illustrated by FIG- URE 4, provides a means of protecting the book leaves 38 in a superior manner whereby the face panel 22 is over-wrapped by the face protector panel 30 so as to insure maximum protection to the face panel 22 thereby assuring that it is not disfigured or otherwise marred during mailing of the wrapped book.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 8 it will be seen that the embodiment 60 of a book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination illustrated therein comprising a generally rectangular six-paneled sheet the panels of which are analogous to those set forth with regard to discussion of the embodiment of FIGURE 1. Accordingly analogous panels are identified by placing a prefix of 1 to the reference numeral for the corresponding panel of the embodirnent 20. Therefore it will be seen that the wrapper inciudes a front or face panel 122, a spine panel 124, a back panel 126, a front edge panel 128, a face panel protector panel and a spine panel protector panel 132 provided on the interior surface thereof with an adhesive, such as a dry mucilage 133, for example. Similarly, the embodiment 60 of the book mailing wrapper is provided with a plurality of folds analogous to those discussed with regard to the embodiment of FIGURE -l. Thus the folds 134 and 136, respectively define the spine panel 124 therebetween. Folds and 142 permit folding back of the front edge panel 128 upon the back panel 126 for nesting purposes and the fold 142 also coacts with a fold 144 to define the front edge panel 128 therebetween. The face panel protector panel 130 is provided with a fold line 148 so as to further permit nesting of the panel 139 the spine panel protector panel 132 between the leaves 138 and the back panel 126 prior to preparation of the book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination for mailing. In addition the Wrapper 60 is provided with an opening device comprising an integral pull string 150. As seen in FIGURE 6, the sender in preparation for mailing the book withdraws the panel portions 132, 130 and 128 from within the book as shown in FIGURE 5, and moistens, or otherwise activates the adhesive layer 133 so as to permit securing the spine panel protector panel 132 against the spine panel 124 thereby wrapping the book leaves 138 which are integrally secured to the inner side of the spine panel 124. The panel 130 is then merely provided with the appropriate forwarding and return addresses and a sufficient amount of postage prior to being placed in the mails. Upon receipt the recipient opens the book mailing wrapper 60 by pulling downwardly on the opening device comprising the pull string which is adhesively or otherwise secured to the interior of the wrapper sheet in overlying relationship to a foldline 146 comprising the fold between the face panel protector panel 130 and the spine panel protector panel 132.

As seen in FIGURE 7 the embodiment 80 illustrated therein incorporates a modified opening means comprising an integral tear strip 250 which is provided in lieu of the pull string 150 and comprises a strip which is formed as an integral portion of the face panel protector panel 130 and adapted upon pulling to sever the spine panel protector panel 132 from the face panel protector panel 130 so as to provide a simple efficient means of permitting the recipient to open the book mailing wrapper 80. While the opening means 250 has been illustrated as being formed by the provision of two parallel weakened lines which extend across the panel 130 it will be understood that an equivalent opening means could be formed by providing only one weakened line across the panel 130.

Referring now to the embodiment 90 of the present invention comprising a book mailing wrapper-greeting card combination illustrated in FIGURES 9-11 it will be seen that the generally rectangular sheet comprising the book mailing wrapper 90 includes six integrally joined panels, and two narrow book cover retaining flaps which extend transversely, a short distance from one of the six panels. More specifically, the embodiment 90 includes a front or face panel 222, a spine panel 224, a rear panel 226, a front edge panel 228, a face panel protector panel 230, a spine panel protector panel 232 and a pair of transversely extending book cover retaining flaps 234. As seen best in FIGURES 9 and 11 the inner side of the spine panel protector panel 232 is provided with a strip of contact adhesive 236 which in utilization of the embodiment 90 to wrap a book is contiguous with a strip of like adhesive 240 on the exterior side of the spine panel 224. The adhesive strips 236 and 240 are preferably, although not necessarily, of a cohesive latex-type.

As seen in FIGURE 11 the embodiment 90, as are the embodiments 20 and 26, is also provided with indicia on the exterior thereof which on the panel 222 comprises a greeting card, advertisement or the like, which also preferably includes the title of the book. In addition, the exterior of the panel 226 is preferably imprinted in a manner so as to provide a simple means of providing the wrapper 90 with the appropriate forwarding and return addresses. From a consideration of FIGURES 9 and 10 it will be appreciated that the book 92, having covers 94, is retained within the book mailing wrapper 90 by the transversely extending book covering retaining flaps 234 and the adhesively secured panels 224 and 232 in such a manner that the end portions of the book leaves 238 remain open in order that the sender may take advantage of the relatively low postal rates for books. Although it is considered to be self-evident it is nevertheless pointed out that the embodiment 90, comprised of the six integral panels enumerated heretofore, is creased along a plurality of lines as indicated by the dot-dash lines 242, the utility of which creases will also be self-evident.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the book mailing wrapper-greeting card combinations of the present invention afford greater protection for the face of the wrapper, integral book leaves or covered book contained therein than is generally possible with book mailing devices proposed heretofore. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A book mailing wrapper comprising a generally elongated rectangular sheet of substantially greater width than height and of the same approximate height as the leaves of a book to be contained therein, said generally rectangular sheet being creased so as to effectively define six integrally connected panels, at least three of said six panels being relatively wide and of approximately the same width as the leaves of a book to be contained therein and providing face and back wrapper panels and a face wrapper panel protector panel, said face wrapper panel being positionable in overlying contiguous relation to the face portion of a book contained therein, said face wrapper panel having a free edge being normally contiguous the free forward edges of the leaves of a book to be contained therein, another one of said six panels contiguous with said face wrapper panel distal to said free edge of said face wrapper panel being relatively narrow and of approximately the same width as the thickness of the spine edge of the leaves of a book to be contained therein so as to act as a spine wrapper pane-l, said spine wrapper panel being between said face and back wrapper panels, said back wrapper panel having the remaining three panels depending therefrom wherein the panel adjoining said back wrapper panel is a relatively narrow from leaf edge panel of approximately the same width as the thickness of the front edge of the leaves of a book to be contained therein so as to act as a protector panel for the free forward edges of the book leaves, said face wrapper panel protector panel depending from said front leaf edge protector panel and including a crease intermediate the edges thereof p oviding means of selectively nesting said face wrapper panel protector panel and said spine wrapper panel within the back of a book normally contained therein, said sixth panel comprising a relatively narrow Spine wrapper panel protector panel depending from said face wrapper panel protector panel, distal from said leaf edge protector panel, and securing means carried by at least a portion of the surface of at least one of said spine panels whereby said mailing wrapper may be releasably secured in encompassing relation about a book to be contained therein and whereby the exterior of said face wrapper panel is normally substantially covered by said face wrapper panel protector panel to preclude damage thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of book cover retaining flaps integral with said face panel, one of said retaining flaps depending from the upper free edge of said-face panel and the other of said retaining flaps depending from the lower free edge of said face panel, said book cover retaining flaps being sized so as to be incapable of encompassing the leaf edges of a book to be contained Within said wrapper.

3., In combination with a book a book mailing wrapper comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of substantially greater width than height and of approximately the same height as the leaves of a book integrally secured therein generally contiguous the spine portion thereof, said generally rectangular sheet being creased so as to effectively define six integral panels, three of said six panels being relatively wide and of approximately the same width as the leaves of the book secured therein and providing face and back wrapper panels and a face wrapper panel pro tector panel, said face wrapper panel having a free edge normally positioned in overlying contiguous relation to the free forward edge of the leaves of the book, another one of said six panels comprising a relatively narrow spine wrapper panel of approximately the same width as the thickness of the spine portion of the leaves of the book, said spine wrapper panel connecting said face and back panels, the spine portion of said book leaves being secured to the interior surface of said spine wrapper panel, a relatively narrow front leaf edge panel integral with said back wrapper panel distal to said spine panel and being adapted to normal-1y overlie the face front edges of the leaves of the book, said face wrapper panel protector panel being connected to said front leaf edge panel distal to said back wrapper panel so as to normally cover said face wrapper panel, said face wrapper panel protectorpanel including a crease intermediate the edges thereof providing means of selectively nesting said face wrapper panel protector panel and said spine wrapper panel protector panel within the back of the book, and a relatively narrow spine wrapper panel protector panel depending from said face wrapper panel protector panel, said spine wrapper panel protector panel being provided with means for normally securing said wrapper in encompassing relation about the book whereby the exterior of said face wrapper panel is normally substantially covered by said face wrapper panel protector panel to preclude damage thereto.

4. In combination with a book a book mailing wrapper comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of substantially greater width than height and of approximately the same height as the leaves of a book retained therein, said generally rectangular sheet being creased so as to effectively define six integral panels, three of said six panels being relatively wide and of approximately the same width as the leaves of the book retained therein and providing face and back wrapper panels and a face wrapper panel protector panel, said face panel having a free edge normally positioned in overlying contiguou relation to the free forward edge of the leaves of the book, another one of said six panels comprising a relatively narrow spine wrapper panel of approximately the same width as the thickness of the spine portion of the leaves of the book contained therein, said spine Wrapper panel connecting said face and back wrapper panels, a relatively narrow front leaf edge panel integral with said back wrapper panel distal to said spine wrapper panel and normally overlying the free front edges of the leaves of the book, said face wrapper panel protector panel being connected to said front leaf edge panel distal to said back wrapper panel so as to normally be in overlying contiguous relation to said face wrapper panel, said face wrapper panel protector panel including a crease intermediate the edges thereof 7 providing means of selectively nesting said face wrapper panel protector panel and said pine Wrapper panel protector panel within the back of the book, a relatively narrow spine wrapper panel protector panel depending from said face wrapper panel protector panel, said spine wrapper panel protector panel being provided with means for securing said wrapper in encompassing relation about the book retained therein and a pair of book cover retaining flaps integral with said face wrapper panel, one of said retaining flaps depending from the upper free edge of said face wrapper panel and the other of said retaining flaps depending from the lower free edge of said face wrapper panel, said book cover retaining flaps being sized so as to be incapable of encompassing the leaf edges of a book contained within said wrapper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,464 5/ 1961 McFarland 22992.3 X 3,223,233 12/1965 Becker et al. 22940X 3,246,833 4/1966 Schlienz et a1 22986 3,253,770 5/1966 Black 229-40 3,285,402 11/1966 Gordun 206--46 3,302,851 2/1967 Johnson 22940 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

